Northern Lights Media, which is owned by Gray TV, has bought three Fairbanks, Alaska TV stations.
NBC affiliate KTVF, CBS affiliate KXD and Fox affiliate KFXF were sold by Tanana Valley Television and Chena Broadcasting to Northern Lights for $8 million in cash.
Northern Lights GM Andy McLeod said his company aims to improve content at the stations.
“This deal makes sense on a number of levels,” MacLeod said. “We think very highly of these television stations and share many of the same values. They have strong local brands and, like us, are committed to delivering timely independent news and information to Alaskans. They have earned a deep bond with their communities and viewers, and we are excited to partner with them.”
From KTUU, which is operated by Northern Lights:
The purchase will allow KTUU to increase its coverage of Interior Alaska. It also will enable NLM to provide Fairbanks area viewers with access to KTUU Channel 2 News resources across the state, including rural Alaska, its Juneau legislative bureau and its news bureau in Washington, DC.
“These stations are the news leaders in Fairbanks, and we’ll be looking for ways to add to their achievements and improve upon the success they’ve already earned,” MacLeod said. “We are excited to expand our coverage of the Interior for southcentral Alaska and statewide viewers.”
NLM is locally operated. Its parent company, Gray Television, Inc., owns over 40 number-one ranked, locally operated television stations across the country.
The deal is subject to FCC approval.